Devotional Life The Starter

 

Devotional Life

The Starter

The Apostle Paul looked at his life and the struggles that filled it

He said

I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. Acts 20:24

Our devotional life is a race and each day we get up and run again

Our devotional time is a very important part of running

We will never finish without starting

Like the starter in your car, gets the big motor running

We must turn the key to the little starter first

What is on your mind?

Is it a portion of scripture

Or, are you looking at a big picture that needs to be defined

Or, maybe you are thinking about a piece or detail of life and its importance

Let these three fence posts help you get started in your devotional time

And let them keep you on track for the race

 

 

The Starter

 

If you have a car with a gas or diesel motor,

that big motor will not run without a small motor.

 

They call that little motor a “starter”.

 

Starters are very important.

 

So many times the job does not get done…

 

Because we don’t know

where or how to start.

 

I would have to say my biggest hurtle

 to my devotional time is starting.

 

Once I get started…

 

 It is like my car, the big motor gets

running and I feel full of power.

 

Your devotional time needs a starter.

 

Maybe it is a book that each day you

pick up where you left off the day before.

 

Or, you get daily devotionals like this

one that get you started each day.

 

These are great, but what

if you are pioneering.

 

I have found I get more out of

things when I write them down. 

 

I am better at shopping with my list.

 

Better at remembering names, birthdays

and anniversaries when I write them down.

 

I get more out of my devotional

time when I write things down.

 

There are four parts to my written devotional…

 

The Title – this is the big picture

 

The Sub Title- detail in the big picture

 

The Body- my comments

  

Scripture Reading

 

I like to use my computer for writing.

 

Each morning I turn to my starter.

 

The “Body” is the big engine it gets

started with one of the other three parts.

 

So the first thing I do is type on

my page what starter I have.

 

Am I thinking about a theme?

 

 A big picture that needs to be broken

down into understandable parts?

 

Am I thinking about details that

need to find the big picture?

 

Or, do I have a scripture verse

I need to discover the big picture

and a detail of that big picture?

 

Over the years I find my little starter that gets

my big motor running will be one of these three…

 

Big picture

 Detail

Scripture

 

No matter which one of these three

I start with, the one I start with will

always ask the other two questions.

 

If I have a scripture I am reading…

 

 I will look for the big picture, my title,

and look at details, the main point, I want

to describe in the body of the devotional.

 

If I start with the big picture…

 

 I will be looking for a point of focus,

some detail of the big picture

and a scripture for reference.

 

Sometimes I start with some detail

and I need to see the big picture and

what the scriptures say about it.

 

So I write on my page, one

or more of the three starters.

 

After I have anyone of these starters

I can begin to think and research.

 

If I have any one of these three things…

 

 Big picture, detail or scripture

my motor is running.

 

I can not tell you how many times

I got up in the morning and

did not know where to start.

 

I found it easier when I realized

I only need one of these three little

things that would get my motor running.  

 

These three things are more than starters…

 

 They are the boundaries

to your devotional time.

 

We get many thoughts in our minds and

can chase rabbits and find our devotional

time did not give us anything concrete.

 

This triangular fence

(big picture, detail or scripture)

 will help to keep you focused.

 

You may not always have all three fence posts

as you write the body of your devotional…

 

 But while you are writing you will

be looking for the missing post.

 

I have many times had a question

and as I defined my question, found

a scripture reading that had the answer.

 

The Apostle Paul looked at his life

and the struggles that filled it.

 

He said…

 

I consider my life worth nothing to me,

if only I may finish the race and complete

the task the Lord Jesus has given me —

the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

Acts 20:24

 

Our devotional life is a race and

each day we get up and run again.

 

Our devotional time is a very

important part of running.

 

We will never finish without starting.

 

Like the starter in your car

gets the big motor running.

 

We must turn the key to the little starter first.

 

What is on your mind…

 

 Is it a portion of scripture?

 

Or, are you looking at a big

picture that needs to be defined?

 

Or, maybe you are thinking about a

piece or detail of life and its importance?

 

Let these three fence post help you get

started in your devotional time and let

them keep you on track for the race.

 

 

Scripture Reading

 

Acts 20:24 NIV

 

I consider my life worth nothing to me,

if only I may finish the race and complete

the task the Lord Jesus has given me —

the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.